Many if not most US-born Polonians are familiar with the term busia (sometimes phoenetically respelt busha) as an affectionate term for a Polish grandmother. The Polish-born find this strange and incomprehensible, but these are terms interjected into English speech. "We're gonna go by busias's tonight" would probably be understood by every Polish American. It probably is a contraction of the hypocoristic (endearing) form babusia, from which the first syllable got lost.
Also in America the term babushka (from the Russian word for grandmother бaбушка) is used to mean a kerchief or head scarf, typcially worn by elderly women. It is debatable whether or not the terrm babushka has had a reinforcing influence on busia. Personally I don't think so. Other Polonian terms of endearment include dziadzi and cioci (some also say kabasy for kiełbasa).
Since grandmothers have always held a special place in the Polish, heart the affectionate dimintives of babcia are quite numerous and include:
Babusia, Babeczka, Babu¶, Babciutka, Babuchna, Babunia, Babuńcia, Babunieczka, Babula, Babulina Babulka, Babuleczka, Babuleńka & Babulinka. These vary from village to village and family to family. English has: gran, granny, grandma and nana.
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